Manchester United’s incoming manager, Ruben Amorim, was reportedly moved to tears after three of the club’s key players—Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher, and Ethan Wheatley—suffered injuries during a training session on Wednesday morning. These players were expected to play significant roles in the upcoming Europa League match against PAOK at Old Trafford on Thursday.
All three were notably absent from the team’s open training session at Carrington, and Manchester United later confirmed they would be excluded from the squad for the match. Instead, Amass, Fletcher, and Wheatley have been included in the UEFA Youth League squad for United’s Under-19 team, which faces FK Zalgiris in the second leg of their second-round clash. United secured a 5-2 victory in the first leg last month.
Amass and Wheatley, both substitutes in United’s recent Europa League fixture against Fenerbahce, are expected to feature for the youth team tonight. Fletcher, meanwhile, has also been used as a substitute in recent matches against Chelsea and Leicester City.
In the absence of these players, only Daniel Armer and Jack Kingdon from the youth squad participated in the senior team’s media session on Wednesday, further indicating that Amass, Fletcher, and Wheatley will not be involved against PAOK.
Amass, who has yet to make his senior debut, could feature at left-back for the Under-19s, while Wheatley joins the forward line alongside Gabriele Biancheri, Bendito Mantato, and Victor Musa. Summer signing Sekou Kone, who made his debut for the Under-21s last weekend, could also make his European debut with the youth team. Another recent addition, Chido Obi-Martin, will not play in tonight’s UEFA Youth League match.
Despite the setbacks, Amorim’s emotional reaction highlights the pressure and high expectations surrounding the team as they prepare for an important European clash.
